Lubricator



Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILETUS W. GATES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNGR '10' HANNA ENGINEERINGWORKS, OF' CHI'GAGO; ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LiJBnIcATon.

Application filed February 27, 1922.

as well as that embodying the present inven tion, are primarily intendedfor use with pneumatically or steam actuated mechanisms, functioning incycles in a well known manner, such, for example, as riveters, pumps,engines and the like, the purpose being to supply the lubricating fluidin comminuted condition to the actuatingflui-d for flow into anddistribution throughout the reciprocating mechanism.

In the invention of the instant application, I provide means to entrap'the actuating fluid at substantially maximum pressure in the lubricator,which will afford a differential inpressure between the lubricator airor steam line when the actuating fluid is flowing through the latter toactuate the mechanism;

" In the lubricators' of the patents mentioned above, theactuating'fluid in the lubricators is in substantial balance with thatin the lines; I find it advisable in some installations'to provide andutilize this differential pressureand for-that purpose have invented thedevice of this application.

Another object of this invention resides in the structure forthecarrying out of thepurpose outlined above; I

These and otherobjects will be morefully set forth and described'in thefollowing specification and shown in the accompanying drawing, in whichFigure 1 is a vertical section through a lubricat'or embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2' is a vertical section through the check'valve shown toanenlargedscale Fig. 8 is a' plan View of the detail shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of another em-- bodiment of. my invention.

Bike numerals refer to like elements in the drawing, in which 10indicatesgenerally a T-torm body having the lateral duct 10theretlirough with the arms- 1O internally threaded for engagement withand insertion in an actuating fluid line 12. Thepro ecting stem 10 ischambered as indicated by numeral 10 to provide a lubricant reser-Serial No. 539,337.

voir, being providedfwith a diaphragm 10 at its ]uncture with the arms10 this diaphragm' being provided with a plurality of apertures orduct-s 1O through which the lubricant may flow to the actuating fluidline. The stem or reservoir 10 is provided with internal shoulder 10*and the side openlngs 10, a cylinder of glass Orthe like 13 bemg locatedwithin the chamber 10 A packing washer of cork, rubber, orthe like, aslndicated by numeral 14, is interposed between the shoulder 10 and thecylinder 13.

Similarlya packing ring 15 is" provided on the top of the cylinder 13.

A threaded central aperture 10* is provlded 1n the diaphragm 10 and inthis is threaded a plug 18 having a centralaperture 18 provided with avalve seat 18". Upward ly oi the valve seat the passage 18 is enlargedas shown in Fig. 2, for example, and

a plurality of vertical passages 18 are in' communication therewithalong their sides. A shoulder 18 is provided intermediate the top andbottom of the plug 18, the aperture 18 being enlarged to permit theinsertion of the check collar 19, sea-ting upon the shoulder-'18 andprovided with tapering ribs- 19" overhanging at their lower portions theaperture 18, the collar 19' being provided with a central aperture 19".A ball 20 is mounted in the enlarged portion of aper-' ture l8 'normallyseating on theseat 18 to close the passage 18*. Thisball, in a wellknown manner, 1s capable of vertical movement, such movement beingrestrained in one direction by the ribs19 When the ball is lifted oftthe seat, the aotuating'fiuid may flow therearound through the passages18 and outwardly through the passages 19 through the spaces 19 betweenthe ribs19 The upper portion of the passage or aperture 18 is threadedas indicated at 18, and

thrcadedly engaging suchaperture is the tube 21, which may be threadedinto engagement with the plug 18 as stated to a position maintaining thecollar 19 in properposition. The tube 21 is threaded along its upperexternal periphery as in'dicatedat 21 and threaded into engagementtherewith is the tube or sleeve 22 having its bore slightly enlarged atthe lower portion as indicated by numeral 22 to clear the tube 21. A-plurality of transverse apertures 22* are provided at the upper portionof the sleeve 22.

Located upon the packing Washer or ring 15 is the cap 25, shouldered toseat upon the washer 15 and grooved at its top for the placing of apacking ring or washer 20. The cap is centrally apertured at 25 to clearthe sleeve 22 and is provided with a filler opening 25 normally closedby the threaded plug 25.

A nut 28 engages the threaded sleeve 22 and is operated with a portioncontactable with the packing washer 26. Screwing the nut 28 downwardlyupon the sleeve 22 will result in drawing the previously described partstogether and maintaining an airtight fit between the cap 25, washers,glass cylinder, etc.

The sleeve 22 extends upwardly of the nut 28 and is provided with thecross apertures 22 at the top. An elongated cap 30 threadedly engagesthe exterior of the nut 28 being provided with an interior chamber orcavity 30, from which leads an aperture 30 internally threaded to permitinsertion of a stem 31 of a gauge 31. It is obvious that the gauge maybe replaced where not desirable by a threaded closure plug, or the like.A packing ring 33 is interposed between the gauge stem 31 and the cap30.

Fibrous material such as felt, waste, sponge, or the like, indicated bynumeral 35, is placed in the bottom 01 reservoir 10 and is compressedand maintained in compressed condition by means of the washer 36, whichis centrally apertured for movement relative to the tube 21.

In the use of the structure described, the fibrous material 35 iscompressed to the tie sirable condition, ordinarily to such a point thatthe lubricant will not flow through by gravity. This compression iseffected and maintained by means of the washer 36, the sleeve 22 beingscrewed down upon the washer by the insertion of a nail, rod or thelike, through the apertures 22*, after which the cap may be applied orrc-applied. Assuming the actuating fluid is air under pressure in theline 12, and a mechanism under periodic operation, i. e., in cycles, bysuch fluid, it will be apparent that as the pressure of the fluidreaches a maximum in the line, due to compression or cutoff, the samewill lift the ball 20 and permit the flow of such fluid upwardly throughtube 21, apertures 22*, into the reservoir chamber 10 containing thelubricant. As the pressure in the line 12 drops, due to the opening ofthe regulating valve or the like, such as during admission to thefunctioning mechanism, the ball 20 will close, entrapping the actuatingfluid under pressure. This will result in a higher pressure obtaining inthe lubricant reservoir than in the line and this pressure presumablycoacting with the suction or wire drawing eti'ect of the flow, theactuating fluid in the reservoir above the oil will press the lubricantthrough the fibrous material 35, and apertures 19, into the line 12, theresult being the supply to the actuating fluid under flow, of thelubricant in a finely divided or comminuted condition whereby it will becarried by the actuating fluid into the functioning mechanism anddistributed over the rubbing surfaces.

This construction results in the supply of oil to the line only whenneeded, that is, when the actuating fluid is flowing, as obviously whenit is at rest the pressure will be balanced in the lubricant chamber andin the line, and also by the proper compression of the fibrous material35 will prevent the flow of the oil at that time.

The gauge may be used where desired to indicate the pressure pulsationsobtaining in the lubricator.

It is apparent that the lower part of the device as shown in Fig. 1, maybe constructed as shown in Fig. 4 so that it may be connected to theactuating air line 12 by a T, or may be connected direct to acompressor, gas, steam or the like cylinder, in which case thecompression part of the stroke of the cycle supplies the full pressurefor the oil reservoir 10 and the suction part of the stroke creates adrop in pressure which determines the ditierential in pressure betweenthe oil reservoir and the chamber F.

In Fig. 4 I have shown another form of my invention which dispenses withthe fibrous packing 35 for preventing and regu lating the flow of oil,and also the necessary neans for adjusting the compression there- 0 Inthe form shown in Fig. 4, the lubricater is generally indicated bynumeral 100 and is provided with the chamber or reservoir 101, which isprovided with side openings 102, the shoulder 103 being providedintern'iediate the extremities oi the lubricator, a packing washer 10%being mounted thereon. At its lower end, lubricator 100 is provided witha threaded reduced extremity 105, which may be threaded into a T 12, asindicated by dotted line, or to a tube or the like con'nnunicating withthe interior of the compressor, or the like, not shown. At the bottom ofthe reservoir 101 is the parti tion 106, centrally apertured andthreaded for engagement by the plug 18 as in the other embodimentillustrated and described above. Similarly the check collar .10 isprovided to limit the ball check 20. A. central- 1y upstanding tube 110is threaded into the central aperture of the plug 18 and maintains thecollar 19 in assembled position. This tube is provided with the ports110 adjacent its upper extremity to permit the flow of actuating fluidfrom the tube into the lubricator reservoir. Tube 110 is externallythreaded at its upper extremity indicated by numeral 110 and a threadednut 215 engages the threaded end 110*. A transparent cylinder of glassor the like- 13 is mounted with its base on the washer 104. A cap 25, asin the other form, rests upon a washer 15 in turn resting upon the upperend of cylinder 13. A packing washer 117 is interposed between the nut1'15 and cap 25, so that, as will be apparent, the screwing down of thenut 115 on tube 21 will result in the drawing together of the lubricatorglass cylinder and cap 25, and the packing washers described therebymaking the reservoir of the l-ubricator substantially airtight.

Below the partition 106. the lubricator is provided with the outletchamber 120. The partition 106 is provided with a second aperture 106,in which is threaded a rod 121. This rod is provided with vertical duct121" leading upwardly from the chamber 120, communicating with a chamber121" at the top of the rod 121, this chamber being sealed at the top bythe threaded plug 121. The second duct 121 leads downwardly from thechamber 121 into reservoir 101 shown in Fig. 4. A regulating pin 123 isprovided extending transversely of the duct 121 near the bottom thereof,this pin being provided with a threaded shank 123 threaded in a threadedaperture in the side of the lubricator 100, being slotted at itsextremity for engagement by a screw driver, or the like. Lock 124maintains the regulating pin 123 in adjusted position, this constructionpermitting regulation of the size of the duct 121 and thereby regulatingthe discharge of 011 therethrough.

The operation of this device when attached to an air line for example,is as follows:

The actuating fluid under maximum pres sure will flow into tube 110 andfrom this into the lubricator above the surface of the lubricant. Upondrop of pressure in the line the ball check 20 will prevent efllux ofthe entrapped fluid in the reservoir so that a maximum pressure ismaintained in the latter during actuation of any periodically operatedmechanism. The entrapped fluid under pressure in the lubricator forces aportion of the lubricant upwardly through duct 121 and downwardlythrough duct 121 into the chamber 120, the amount of dis charge beingregulable by the valve pin 123. The discharged oil will flow into theline and be conveyed with the actuating fluid to the mechanism actuatedthereby. It will be obvious that in this construction, as in the otherpreviously described, there is means to normally prevent the flowof thelubricant into the line so that the lubricant is only supplied when thefluid pressure is actuating some mechanism, for example. Of course,should the fluid bressure be cut oif short of the lubricator in theline, leaving is to remain inactive for any considerable period of time,thus preventing the discharge oi? the lubricant into the line duringperiods of non-use.

It will be apparent that my invention is,

susceptible: of embodiment in a. number or forms and 1 donot wish to berestricted. to the formshown and described, except as defined in theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a lu.-. bricator comprising abodyportion having a lubricant reservoir therein, a transverse actuatingfluid passage, an apertured partition separating said reservoir fromsaid passage, fibrous means located in said reservoir to normallyprevent the flow of the lubricant therefrom, means to maintain saidfibrous means in compressed condition comprising an apertured disk, afluid supply tube extending from said passage into said reservoir.

2. In a device of the class described, a lubricator comprising a bodyportion having a lubricant reservoir therein, a transverseactuating-fluid passage, an apertured partition separating saidreservoir from said passage, fibrous means located in said reservoir tonormally prevent the flow of the lubricant therefrom, means to maintainsaid fibrous means in compressed condition comprising an aperture disk,a fluid supply tube extending from said passage into said reservoir,through said disk.

3. In a device of the class described, a lubricator comprising a bodyportion having a lubricant reservoir therein, a transverse actuatingfluid passage, an apertured partition separating said reservoir fromsaid passage, fibrous means located in said reservoir to normallyprevent the flow of the lubricant therefrom, means to maintain saidfibrous means in compressed condition comprising an aperture disk, afluid supply tube extending from said passage into said reservoir,through said disk, and means associated with said tube to maintain saiddisk in position.

4. In a device of the class described, a lubricator comprising a bodyportion having a lubricant reservoir therein, a transverse actuatingfluid passage, an apertured partition separating said reservoir fromsaid passage, fibrous means located in said reservoir to normallyprevent the flow of the lubricant therefrom, means to maintain saidfibrous means in compressed condition comprising an apertured disk, afluid supply tube extending from said passage into said reservoir,through said disk, and means associated with said tube to maintain saiddisk in position, said last named means comprising an apertured sleeve.

5. A lubricator comprising a chambered body portion, a tube extendinginto said body portion, a cap member for said body portion apertured tosurround said tube, a threaded nut engaging said tube and bearing onsaid cap to maintain the same in assembled relation to said bodyportion, and a second cap carried by said nut, said tube being incommunication With the interior thereof.

6. In a lubricator, a chambered body portion having a bottom partition,a threaded tube extending into said chamber of said body portion fromsaid partition, fibrous material mounted upon said partition, means tocompress and maintain said fibrous material in compressed conditioncomprising an apertured disk, an apertured sleeve engaging said tube andbearing upon said disk.

7. In combination with an actuating fluid line, a lubricator comprisinga lubricant reservoir, a lubricant duct leading from said reservoir, asecond duct in communication with said reservoir and said line, meanscoacting With said second duct to permit the flow of the actuating fluidto said reservoir under pressure from said line, said means beingoperable to prevent the return flow of said actuating fluid, and meansto regulate discharge through said lubricant duct.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed llly 11H 11] e

